Google Maps has enabled us to keep track of where we’ve been and what we’ve seen, and helps us determine where we should go next. For the last four years, I have relied on Maps to help us make plans for every new place we visit, to locate key services, and to provide reviews and photos of local businesses.
I am a proud Google Local Guide and do the planning for our travels. We are retired and travel full time in an RV. We normally change our location every month and travel about 12,000 miles (19,000 km) a year. I love talking with people we meet about our travels around the United States. Being a Local Guide is an integral part of my life.
What is the most interesting thing I’ve done as a Local Guide? I have thoroughly enjoyed the many discoveries made as a Local Guide during our travels, a unique experience that allows me to incorporate my contributions about our everyday life into Google Maps. There is always something new to uncover when visiting a new locale, and that is what’s interesting to me.
When you live in an established area, you are comfortable as to where to go for everything you need. Since our location is always changing, I need to continually search for new businesses to patronize. Google Maps is my companion to help me navigate, explore and learn about every place I visit.
As a Local Guide, I’ve found that with our nomadic lifestyle, my Google Maps contributions are spread out over various categories we experience in our everyday life. In the last 4 years, I have reviewed 650+ grocery stores, 400+ gas stations and 460+ shops. While I don’t know exactly what categories other Local Guides contribute to, I find it very interesting that my Local Guide reviews and photos vary greatly and reflect my life and needs as a traveler.
My categories of contributions |
Reviews |
Photos with at least 6,000 views |
|---|---|---|
Businesses and services that we need as we travel: medical, car and RV maintenance, pet health, groceries, gas, and RV camping locations |
52% |
56% |
Restaurants: table service and fast food with about 10% of my contributions of budget-conscious businesses |
26% |
30% |
Tourist activities: local areas like city parks, national parks, hiking trails, kayaking, movies, festivals, miniature golf |
22% |
14% |
With Google Maps, I create lists to better leverage the local businesses and services and make our experience in an area more meaningful. As an example, here is the list that we created during our visit to Myrtle Beach, SC during the month of March 2020. This list provides a summary of the things I consider to be the “best of” in their category. https://goo.gl/maps/8uXhfm8UDWC82mtr9
I am now a Local Guide because I want to provide photos and reviews to others visiting the same areas where we have been. My goal is to give small businesses across the country more exposure in Google Maps which will hopefully benefit those who might pass through the same places and need these local services.
Having a nomadic lifestyle introduced me to thinking like, acting as, and being a Local Guide. Google Maps introduced itself and the program to me by suggesting that I contribute the photos I was already taking to document our travels. The path to being a Local Guide and its impact on my life can be watched via my YouTube video.
Being a Local Guide has benefited me personally by giving me information and direction in our travels. I utilize other Local Guides’ contributions to determine where we go, and what we want to do when we get there. I faithfully make my contributions keeping Google Maps fresh and to “pay it forward” to those who will visit at a later date.
What categories do you distribute to the most in Google Maps? What category is your most popular photos?
#LocalGuidesUSA
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